OPEN Foundation

Day: 1 January 2000

LSD-induced hallucinogen persisting perception disorder treatment with clonidine: an open pilot study.

January 1, 2000 / HPPD, LSD, Papers, Psychology, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

A pilot open study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of clonidine in the treatment of LSD-induced hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). Eight patients fulfilled entrance criteria. All complained of HPPD for at least 3 months and were drug free at least 3 months. They received fixed low doses of clonidine, 0.025 mg, three times a day for 2 months. They were evaluated by the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and a self-report scale on the severity of symptoms (graded 0-5). Patients scored an average of 5.25 (SD = 0.46) on the CGI and 4 on the self-report scale at baseline, indicating marked psychopathology. One patient dropped out at week 3 and a second patient dropped out at week 5. Of the six patients remaining at the end of 2 months, the average CGI score was 2.5 (SD = 0.55) and the self-report scale score was 2, indicating mild symptomatology. LSD-related flashbacks associated with excessive sympathetic nervous activity may be alleviated with clonidine in some patients.

Lerner, A. G., Gelkopf, M., Oyffe, I., Finkel, B., Katz, S., Sigal, M., & Weizman, A. (2000). LSD-induced hallucinogen persisting perception disorder treatment with clonidine: an open pilot study. International clinical psychopharmacology, 15(1), 35-37.
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Role of Serotoninergic Neurons and 5-HT Receptors in the Action of Hallucinogens

January 1, 2000 / Neuroscience, Other subjects, Papers, Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By /

Abstract

Brain serotonin receptors and serotoninergic pathways have received increasing attention as targets for a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Perhaps peculiar to this realm, however, are the so-called hallucinogenic drugs, which presently lack demonstrated therapeutic utility, and still remain, as they have for at least the past 50 years, pharmacological curiosities. Research into their mechanism of action is generally poorly funded, and we know relatively little about how they affect the brain, despite their continued popularity as recreational drugs among a significant proportion of the population.

Nichols, D. E. (2000). Role of serotoninergic neurons and 5-HT receptors in the action of hallucinogens. In Serotoninergic Neurons and 5-HT Receptors in the CNS (pp. 563-585). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60921-3_21

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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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